Le Bon Samaritan (The Good Samaritan) 1849

Rodolphe Bresdin created this tiny etching, "The Good Samaritan," using a variety of techniques to render the intricate lines. Bresdin, living in a tumultuous post-revolutionary France, often grappled with poverty and social alienation. He evokes empathy through the image of the Good Samaritan, a figure who transcends social divides to offer help. The landscape surrounding the figures is teeming with life, yet also feels isolating, a reflection on humanity's relationship with nature and with each other. Note the contrast between light and shadow, which directs our gaze to the central act of compassion. Bresdin never received widespread recognition during his lifetime; his art often served as a form of personal and social commentary. "The Good Samaritan" invites us to contemplate the significance of kindness and the shared responsibility we have towards one another, regardless of societal norms. It subtly challenges us to reflect on the importance of humanity.